tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post5212493711317524399..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: How Dare They Tell Me I Cannot Be A Princess?Teacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-73311470924747590962013-01-30T11:28:12.152-08:002013-01-30T11:28:12.152-08:00Thank you so much for sharing this experience of y...Thank you so much for sharing this experience of yours. I'd like to add this thought to spur a conversation: Allowing acceptance and embracing children and adults who feel they do not entirely fit into one gender's role or another as assigned to them from our culture is so important in our early childhood field. It has become a great concern of mine since I have seen many young children and adult peers of min who feel they do not fit and then are ostracized for voicing or acting upon their instinct. I feel sad reading your blog today because if a child or even an adult who witnessed this felt they didn't fit into the gender the culture in your classroom they could suffer because of these strong reactions.Susan (Cait's mom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03284762368014589735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-59926939926921982402013-01-29T18:32:32.212-08:002013-01-29T18:32:32.212-08:00May I share my take on the subject?
http://thewon...May I share my take on the subject?<br /><br />http://thewonderofchildhood.com/2011/07/who-are-you-calling-a-princess/<br />Christine Natalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05229816325785606031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-73778042135259616752013-01-29T09:29:44.121-08:002013-01-29T09:29:44.121-08:00There are a few boys in my room, who put on dresse...There are a few boys in my room, who put on dresses and tutus the second they come in and a few girls who are obsessed by fire man sam!Amiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12749108590742647398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-2275564775947281982013-01-28T21:04:25.108-08:002013-01-28T21:04:25.108-08:00I love your posts on gender roles. I was a girl wh...I love your posts on gender roles. I was a girl who did not like dolls and preferred a different kind of play instead of the typical "house" and baby stuff. So when my first born was a girl I naively thought that's how she would be. At first, she was and then she hit about 3 years old and the girl world took over. She loves her dresses and babies and plays house and pretends to get married. All of that. My son was born just a year after her and I tried to keep it very neutral but he very quickly reverted to "pink and dresses are only for girls". They do now understand (ages 5 and 4) that some boys like pink and some boys wear dresses and some girls only wear pants and don't like dolls but they still prefer their specific gender roles. It amazes me still but I understand and accept it. And when they each cross over every once in a while when playing just with each other? I adore it.Cave Mommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02446689918377947144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-247065970837877282013-01-28T20:11:00.183-08:002013-01-28T20:11:00.183-08:00The image of you prancing about as a princess make...The image of you prancing about as a princess makes me smile...and wish I were one of your students. What fun it must be! <br />Thanks for another brilliant post, Tom.janetlansburyhttp://janetlansbury.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-55284087499229238312013-01-28T10:48:51.921-08:002013-01-28T10:48:51.921-08:00I was surprised when my daughter began to pick out...I was surprised when my daughter began to pick out her own clothes at age 2 while still in daycare. She was very committed to dresses and anything pink. And she was always surrounded by all the other little girls (younger than she) when she arrived and most began to emulate these fashions very quickly. We've always encouraged her with regard to gender neutral dress, toys, etc. but she is drawn to "girly" things. Mamabearhttp://musicandsmartkids.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-65542535289532386632013-01-28T04:47:02.555-08:002013-01-28T04:47:02.555-08:00Just discovered your blog and love it! I was posti...Just discovered your blog and love it! I was posting recently about dressing up, and how sad I felt when my son stopped choosing his favourite pink tutu at toddler group and started announcing pink was for girls. There is absolutely nothing wrong with children exploring gender in this way. Both my boys are BOYS, and I love them for it, but I was more than happy to let them go which ever way they went.<br />http://daisybroomfield.blogspot.co.uk/<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13399451374546735146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-89029044136271889002013-01-27T22:08:11.154-08:002013-01-27T22:08:11.154-08:00Love this post, Tom. I see the same things as you,...Love this post, Tom. I see the same things as you, over the years, where gender tends to maintain its stereotype as natural play occurs. Of course, there are cross overs sometimes with girls being super heroes or boys being care takers - yet, weapon play still leans to boy play and princesses in castles still lean toward girl play.<br />My cheery quote for you today is from 2 four-year-old girls who completed a brightly colored, completely full easel painting and when asked about the adventure in their painting they replied "Oh! This is Captain Hook in a bloody cage!" I was sort of impressed at their bravery to already know of such things and sort of stunned, too!Jeanne Zuechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04937382280710368749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-17623733346997824772013-01-27T18:30:08.887-08:002013-01-27T18:30:08.887-08:00More and More as a teacher and as a parent I belie...More and More as a teacher and as a parent I believe it is my role to offer as many choices about everything and let the children chose their own path. This is what I think you do so well. You keep role-modelling lots of options, and challenging the children to think outside their box, so they know there are lots of options. Thank you for sharing what you do so well. <br />Jess64https://www.blogger.com/profile/08400242141096349084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-88752639859478089402013-01-27T14:50:25.767-08:002013-01-27T14:50:25.767-08:00@Faigie . . . I certainly do not see this as a lib...@Faigie . . . I certainly do not see this as a liberal vs. conservative thing! I think you misunderstand when you accuse others of pushing a feminist agenda. Of course, there are gender TENDENCIES that appear to be biological, but this doesn't mean that we should then "force" children into certain roles simple based upon their genitals. My goal as a parent was not to create a gender-neutral child, but rather to make sure I wasn't compelling her into life choices simply based on her gender. I want children to know that they have choices. For instance, many girls may like to dress up like princesses, but some DO NOT. It would be wrong of me to make her seem like she was deficient or lacking because of this. I simply want girls and boys to know that they have the choice to do/feel/believe the way the fits them as individuals, not gender stereotypes.<br /><br />You sound down on feminism. Feminism is simply the radical notion that women are people too, something about which both liberals and conservatives can certainly agree. =)Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-39278766799575721732013-01-27T13:08:53.614-08:002013-01-27T13:08:53.614-08:00My friend and I were happily convinced that we wer...My friend and I were happily convinced that we were raising our 3-year-olds in a "gender-neutral" way--her son had a doll house, my daughter had trucks and tools--and then we took them to the local children's museum. They ran back to the "playhouse" area at once--where my daughter instantly began parading around in a pink feather boa, while her friend grabbed some pvc pipe and started hooking up the pipes. Like you, my friend and I were a bit dismayed--but there are some things you just can't change. We felt better once both kids dug into the "making things" room with glue guns and sticky tape. Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803069104800007097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-55931698803904853032013-01-27T10:56:54.406-08:002013-01-27T10:56:54.406-08:00I think this is great because most liberals love t...I think this is great because most liberals love to push the feminist agenda on kids today when it is really very natural that boys want to do boy things and girls girl things. There was an article in the Time magazine years ago showing how kids actually are wired that way and do not choose gender related activities and dresses because we as a conservative bunch push them on our kids.Faigiehttp://www.eduart4kids.comnoreply@blogger.com